Raiders make the first of their four sixth-round picks

The Raiders addressed their glaring need for help at tight end by selecting Colorado’s Nick Kasa in the sixth round of the NFL draft. The Raiders still have three more picks in the sixth round.
Kasa, 6-foot-6 and 269, is a converted defensive end that excels at blocking. He started every game at tight end last season and amassed 25 receptions for 391 yards and three touchdowns.
The Raiders lost starter Brandon Myers to the New York Giants in free agency. Myers was Oakland’s leading receiver last season.
With Kasa aboard, the Raiders now have three prospects competing for the starting spot. David Ausberry and Richard Gordon are the two others.

Steve Corkran

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Positives
Kasa does a good job getting out of his stance quickly, although there were times where he was unable to get a good first step. Kasa uses form blocking technique, keeping his hands inside and shows the ability to block aggressively and physically, and will punch when he needs to fend off the pass rush. Kasa’s strong legs enable him to both drive a DE/LB forward or hold his own and maintain balance against the bigger athletes. Kasa also shows the ability to go down the seam quickly and can create a miss-match with LB’s in coverage and is a quick route runner, although his footwork will need to become more crisp in order to become a more dangerous receiving TE. Kasa shows the ability to run curl routes effectively as his ability to get down will cause LB to freeze.
Negatives
While Kasa is a guy that can get down the field quickly and create a mis-match in coverage, he will need to improve his footwork that will enable him to run crisper routes as he does not show the ability to break coverage on routes to the sideline or over the middle. I would like to see him plant his foot better to freeze the LB. He will also need to improve his hands as he had a few dropped passes in the games I evaluated and needs to do a better job in securing the ball as the ball was knocked out upon contact. Kasas will also need to become more consistent on his first step to allow him more leverage when asked to block. While he has solid footwork and slides his feet well and shows the ability to recover on a missed block, Kasa showed some poor body control and positioning on blocks, enabling the DE to gain leverage on him and get him off balance.
Analysis
Kasa is a very solid athlete and shows his willingness to do what he is asked to for his team. He was moved to TE 8 games into his Junior season from DE so he still has somewhat of a learning curve. As a former DE, he will have the instincts in both blocking and in route running and can use that to his advantage. Kasa is a solid blocker, he shows the strength, the technique and can be very physical when he has to be in order to fend off the pass rush. He has strong legs that enable him to withstand the pressure from the outside and uses the strength to muscle the pass rusher. He uses good technique for the most part, although at times he will bend his waist enabling the pass rusher to gain some leverage on him. As far as receiving goes he can be a solid receiver as he has the quickness and speed to go down the seam and create mis-matches with LB’s and also uses his speed as an advantage on curl routes as his speed will cause the LB to freeze due to the deep threat. In order for him to improve and be a more reliable receiver he will need to improve his footwork and show that he can create separation in short to medium routes, and he must become stronger in securing the ball once he makes the catch as he showed a tendency to drop the ball at contact. Overall, Kasa is a very solid blocking tight end but will need to improve on his receiving skills in order to become a more well-rounded Tight End at the next level.

Something tells me Richard Gordon should be getting very nervous about now. This guy matches his blocking and is a better receiver.

RaiderRockstar

i told you guys our TE this year would emerge from dirt .. Kasa AusGord

http://goducks.com Sir RaiderDuck, OMS

And we’re on the clock again.

The Beeech Diggity Dawg

Brahs, did you all hear that Nob bust hand selected Kasa as our TE of the future?

He spent all night reviewing game tape in his maintenance shed to determine this

No, seriously

HELLS 2 THE YEAH

rediaR

LOL trade

Thec

RaiderRockstar Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
i told you guys our TE this year would emerge from dirt .. Kasa AusGord

++++++++=

You also said JFORD would be traded?????

http://goducks.com Sir RaiderDuck, OMS

And we just traded.

WESTRAIDER

Trade

Plunk-It

Of course, the rawness factor as a receiver is a real issue. He’s a project – and likely won’t contribute much in 2013, per most scouting reports. This may be a situation that benefits the Seahawks though as they already have Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy on the roster for the year – perhaps a year in the pros, learning to master his routes and pass catching, is just what the Seahawks can provide for Kasa.

Nonethless, the physical potential is off the charts – at 6’6, 269, he ran the 40 in 4.71 seconds with a 31.5″ vert and a 9’5″ broad jump. He’s got the body type of athlete that could put on about 5-10 pounds and become a very good all-around blocking/catching type of tight end and retain his speed – Rob Gronkowski is the prime example of this and while I’m obviously not going to compare Kasa to Gronk, they do have similar size with athletic upside.

lefty12

Read this-stays after practice and catches 100s of balls from the jugs machine.

Joe is the youngest of three Kruger brothers. Paul plays linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and Dave just finished his Utah career as a four-year starting defensive tackle. His father played football for Oregon State and his brother-in-law, Tony Bergstrom, was an all-Pac-12 offensive lineman for the Utes in 2011, was a third-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders. In high school, Kruger lettered all four years in both football and basketball. In his senior football season, he had 51 tackles and led the state with 15 sacks.

As a true freshman, Kruger saw action in all 13 games, but mainly as a special teams player. He earned Academic All-MWC honors. In 2011, Kruger played in 13 games, and logged seven starts. He had 35 tackles (five for loss), and three sacks. In his junior year, Kruger had 30 tackles (eight for loss), one interception (which he returned for a touchdown), and six sacks. He was an All-Pac 12 honorable mention.

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Plunk-It

Why the hell would we trade unless we are getting a #4 or #5 in 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!

redshirt

Trade

RaiderRockstar

@Thec

draft isnt over yet.. JFORD will be traded next round

Plunk-It

On Kasa:

Of course, the rawness factor as a receiver is a real issue. He’s a project – and likely won’t contribute much in 2013, per most scouting reports. This may be a situation that benefits the Seahawks though as they already have Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy on the roster for the year – perhaps a year in the pros, learning to master his routes and pass catching, is just what the Seahawks can provide for Kasa.

Nonethless, the physical potential is off the charts – at 6’6, 269, he ran the 40 in 4.71 seconds with a 31.5″ vert and a 9’5″ broad jump. He’s got the body type of athlete that could put on about 5-10 pounds and become a very good all-around blocking/catching type of tight end and retain his speed – Rob Gronkowski is the prime example of this and while I’m obviously not going to compare Kasa to Gronk, they do have similar size with athletic upside.

I wanted Kruger all the way back in the 4th round. I can’t believe he is still available. He is only 20 years old, has a great motor, and a nice developmental pick at this moment. Not sure what is scaring teams about him.

I always get nervous when I hear about a TE that havent caught many catches. Ricky Dudley.

inonewordraider

Plunk-It Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
I wanted Kruger all the way back in the 4th round. I can’t believe he is still available. He is only 20 years old, has a great motor, and a nice developmental pick at this moment. Not sure what is scaring teams about him.
_________

looks slow as hell though tho no?

shutdown

Can someone tell me what we did with our pick after the Te?

http://goducks.com Sir RaiderDuck, OMS

Aig-Raiders Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
I always get nervous when I hear about a TE that havent caught many catches. Ricky Dudley.

========================================

Yeah, but it’s much less risk when you’re doing it in Round 6.

aig-raiders

at the least he can contribue on spec team and if he turns out good for the TE spot then we ok.

Shutdown Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Can someone tell me what we did with our pick after the Te?

==============================================

Traded down eight spots and got a seventh-rounder thrown in.

RaiderRockstar

AIG,

nervous about a 6th rounder not planning out?

rediaR

Inonewordraider Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Plunk-It Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
I wanted Kruger all the way back in the 4th round. I can’t believe he is still available. He is only 20 years old, has a great motor, and a nice developmental pick at this moment. Not sure what is scaring teams about him.
_________

looks slow as hell though tho no?
—————–
People seem to label him a 3-4 end.

DaMick

Remaining Raiders picks are Nos. 181, 184, 205, 209, 233

Umm… Who’s left?

shutdown

A seventh rounder? Must be someone RM feels isn’t on anyone’s sights?

Stringer Bell

aig-raiders Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 1:05 pm

at the least he can contribue on spec team and if he turns out good for the TE spot then we ok.
************************************************
Absolutely right. Let’s not forget how bad special teams was last year…

The Beeech Diggity Dawg

Brahs, my dingle berries are acting up something FIERCE today

Guess I need to get new toilet paper, like peanut butter on a rug in me kracken